Network Engineer · Trollhättan, Sweden & London, England
Nikitas
Kalafatas
CCNP-certified engineer specialising in multi-protocol enterprise networks, firewall security, and Python automation at University West.
Biography
The Story So Far
I've always been the kind of person who needs to know how things work under the hood. That's what pushed me toward University West (Högskolan Väst) in Sweden, where I'm completing a B.Sc. in Network Engineering & IT Security started in 2023.
Certifications came quickly once I got going. I pushed through CCNA, then CCNP ENCOR and ENARSI, hitting a 94%+ average across exams.
In late 2025 I took on my first real client: VetaCare/VetaDerm in Göteborg. I went in, racked and cabled the hardware myself, then rebuilt their Ubiquity setup from scratch. New VLANs, firewall rules, ACLs, VPN, the lot.
A lot of my time has been on actual physical kit, not just GNS3. Console cables into real Cisco routers and switches, running and terminating Cat5e/Cat6, working in racks. I think that hands-on side of things is what separates me from people who've only ever done labs.
Right now I'm looking for my first full-time role. I've got the certs, the hardware experience, some Python automation under my belt, and I've been sharpening the security side through Fortinet NSE4 and CTF platforms like TryHackMe and HackTheBox.
Quick Facts
Credentials
Certifications
8 Cisco certifications earned through practical exams. Every badge below required a 2–3 hour hands-on "Design and Implement" lab.
Expertise
Technical Skills
Advanced Routing
Enterprise Networking
Security
Automation & Labs
Career
Experience
Network Consultant
VetaCare / VetaDerm · Göteborg, Sweden
- ▸Physically racked, mounted and cabled hardware on-site in a live production environment
- ▸Reinstalled and segmented Ubiquity gateway/router infrastructure with VLAN design
- ▸Configured DHCP, Firewalls, ACLs, VPN and remote admin login
- ▸Handled static IP allocation for veterinary lab equipment (centrifuge database)
- ▸Reconfigured all wireless access points across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands
Practical Network Engineering Projects
Högskolan Väst (University West)
- ▸Completed all 2–3 hour practical "Design and Implement" exams for 8 Cisco certifications
- ▸Configured real Cisco routers and switches hands-on via console cable — not just simulators
- ▸Deployed enterprise-scale topologies with BGP, OSPF, EIGRP and full protocol redundancy
- ▸Automated network configuration and testing with Python scripts and Postman API
- ▸Configured DNS, NTP, Apache, iptables and nmap monitoring on Linux servers
- ▸Achieved 94%+ average across CCNA and CCNP exams
Work
Network Engineering Projects
Enterprise Network – VetaCare
Redesigned Ubiquity gateway infrastructure with VLAN segmentation, DHCP, firewalls, ACLs, VPN and dual-band wireless deployment.
Multi-Protocol Routing Lab
Designed and deployed enterprise-scale network topology with BGP, OSPF, EIGRP and full protocol redundancy — passed the 2-hour practical exam.
Python Network Automation Suite
Python scripts for automated network configuration and testing via Postman API — reduced configuration time by ~70% across multiple Cisco devices.
CTF Infrastructure – Root-The-Box
Designed and deployed a Capture the Flag cybersecurity platform (Root-the-Box) on Docker across Windows 11 & Ubuntu. Built SSH, FTP, NC, and HTTP challenge machines with VLAN-isolated Docker networks, Sudo privilege escalation scenarios, and varying difficulty flags. Uploaded to GitHub.
Windows Server Infrastructure – AD & Services
Deployed a full enterprise Windows Server environment on Proxmox: two-site Active Directory (group5.lab.hv.se), DNS, File Services with NTFS/ABE permissions, FTP, IIS web server, and WSUS update management. Spent 23 hours across design, implementation, and documentation.
QoS & High Availability Design
Implemented QoS policies and HSRP for critical business applications, achieving zero downtime with redundant gateway configuration.
University West
B.Sc. Network Engineering & IT Security
123 HP credits completed · 20+ courses · Expected graduation 2026
7 courses
Credits
Open to Opportunities
Let's Get In Touch
Available for network engineering roles and consulting projects. Fill out the form and I'll get back to you.
Location
Trollhättan, Sweden · London, England
Open to relocation & remote